Humidifier and dust collector for internal combustion engines



Dec. 17, 1957 F". w. WEAVER ,8

HUMIDIFIER AND DUST COLLECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES OriginalFiled Nov. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 24 /a I f I I I I? E [/0 1' I I I44 I- i Q '1 /4 I I v\ I .9, I4 I I 20, i I I 22 L AW l QQ l l m I //5-l l V /7 o I lo I EEEEEfi Dec. 17, 1957 F. w. WEAVER 2,816,622

HUMIDIFIER AND DUST COLLECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES OriginalFiled NOV. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent HUMIDIFIER ANDDUST COLLECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Fred W. Weaver,Birmingham, Ala.

Original application November 13, 1956, Serial No. 621,616. Divided andthis application May 20, 1957, Serial No. 660,738

2 Claims. (Cl. 183-25) This invention relates to a humidifier and dustcollector for internal combustion engines. It has for its main objectsto provide such a device that will be highly satisfactory for thepurpose intended, simple in structure, comparatively cheap tomanufacture, easy to install for use, and extremely durable. It isespecially intended for use on engines of automobiles and trucks, but isnot limited to such use.

It is well known that if a slight amount of water is added to agasoline-air mixture in the form of water vapor, a gasoline engine willnot only run smoother, but will also have a greater output and a moreecconomical rate of fuel consumption. For this reason a gasoline enginewill run better on a rainy day.

The present device is adapted to fit on the stack or air intake of acarburetor in the same manner as the generally used air cleaner and willrequire the same space, but will contain water instead of oil to thusform suitable contact of the incoming air with the water. Oil may beused if desired.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the drawings anddescription.

This application is a division of an application filed by the presentapplicant on November 13, 1956, under Serial Number 621,616.

By referring generally to the drawings it will be observed that Fig. 1is a top plan view showing a humidifier and dust collector madeaccording to the present invention mounted for use on an internalcombustion engine; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the parts shownin Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the device less the supplytank for the water source; Fig. 4 is a center elevational sectional viewof the parts shown in Fig. 3.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the devicecomprises a round container having a top 1, bottom 2, and surroundingwall 3. A plurality of tubes 4 are attached in the top and extenddownwardly into the container for a short distance. An air bafflestructure consisting of parts 5, being the tubes positioned as a ringattached around in the upper portion, 6 being a circular plate withholes therethrough in which the lower ends of the tubes are attached,and having a large hole in its center, 7 being a slanting portionattached around at the lower edge of the tubes, and 8 being a circularplate attached to the lower edge of the slanting portion, all beingpositioned around tube 9 that is mounted on the intake stack opening ofa carburetor 10 attached to a gasoline engine 11. The top 6 of the airbaffie is provided with holes into which the lower ends of the tubes 4are attached. Also it is provided with a curved downward outer edge forpartly obstructing the travel of air to force it to pass between thecurved edge and housing wall. The part 7 of the air baffle slants towardthe main tube 9 so that the entering air will strike the main tubebefore making contact with the surface of the water 13 in the bottomportion of the container which is provided with 2,816,622 Patented Dec.17, 1957 with water baflies 12 to prevent the water from sloshing aroundwhen the humidifier is used on the carburetor on an engine in anautomobile or truck. The depth of the water in the container isregulated by vacuum as follows: the water supply tank 14 is air tight.It is provided with valve 15 for putting water therein to a desireddepth as shown by the water gage 16 attached in a wall of the tank. Awater supply tube 17 with a valve 18 leads from the bottom of a wall ofthe supply tank to the bottom of the wall of the container. An air tube19 leads from the top of the water supply tank to the top of thecontainer where it enters through a suitable hole 20 and extendsdownward into the water 13 in the container. The air tube 19 is providedwith an adjustablecollar 21 for regulating the depth of the end of thetube into the water. A water gage 22 is mounted on the wall of thecontainer to show the desired depth of water in the container. Assumingthat it is desired to put sufficient water in the container to have itssurface near the bottom portion 8 of the air bafHe, the air tube wouldbe set to extend partly into the water as plainly shown in Figs. 2 and4. In this condition with the valve on the connecting water supply tubeopen, water would flow from the full supply tank to the container untilwater in the container made contact with and closed the end of the airtube thereby cutting olf the air supply to the water supply tank thuscausing a vacuum in the top portion of the supply tank which wouldprevent water flowing out of it into the container. In this resultingcondition the valve in the Water supply tube could be closed to use thewater in the container, or be open to let the vacuum arrangement controlthe water depth in the container. A clamping type band or collar 23 isused to hold the humidifier in place for use on the carburetor. Abracket structure 24 is used to support the water supply tank on theupper part of the engine.

The arrows shown in Fig. 4 show how sucked in air travels through thehumidifier as follows: the air enters through the tubes in the top ofthe container, is diverted by the truncated cone portion of the airbaffle toward the center main tube which it strikes, then the air flowcurves and makes contact with the surface of the water and eX- tendsover the water to the outer curved edge of the baffle bottom portion,then upward along the inner face of the wall of the container, thenalong under the container top and between the tubes to the open end ofthe main center tube, then down through the center tube into thecarburetor for use. Thus it will appear that as the air strikes thesurface of the water and spreads out to the curved outer edge of thebattle it will absorb moisture from the water and be cleaned of dust andthe like falling into the water. Also the said vacuum means connectingthe water source to the humidifier may be used to regulate the spacebetween the surface of the water and the outer curved edge of thebaflle.

The various parts of the device may be made of any material suitable forthe purpose, but I prefer to use good grades of metal such as copper andaluminum. Also the parts may be made in different sizes and capacitiesdepending on the sizes of internal combustion engines on which to beused.

While I have shown and described the prefen-ed embodiment of myinvention, I do not wish to limit same to the exact and precise detailsof structure, and reserve the right to make all modifications andchanges so long as they remain within the scope of the invention and thefollowing claims.

Having described my invention I claim:

I. A humidifier and dust collector for cleaning air comprising, a roundcontainer, said container having a top and bottom and surrounding wall,said top having a plurality of same in size holes therethrough andspaced apart to form a circle, said bottom of the container having acomparatively large round hole through its center, a piece of tubeattached by an end thereof in each of said circular positioned holes andextending downward into the container a short distance, a bafllestructure in the container, said bathe structure having a round topportion and a bottom round portion and a truncated cone shaped portionconnecting the top and bottom portions spaced apart, said top having aplurality of holes therethrough of a size and positioned to registerwith the plurality of holes in the container top, each lower end of saidtube pieces being attached in a hole in the top of the bathe, said topand bottom of the bathe structure having their peripheral edges near thewall of the container as part of means for directing the travel of airthrough the structure, the top of the bathe having a hole through itscenter of a size to register with the said hole in the bottom of thecontainer, the bottom of the bathe structure having a very large hole inits center portion with its inner edge attached to the bottom edge ofsaid truncated cone shaped portion, a tube inserted through the holes inthe center of the bathe structure and the hole in the container bottom,the top edge of the tube being attached to the edge of the center holein the top of the bathe, the lower end portion of the tube extendingthrough the hole in the bottom of the container with the center holeedge attached around the tube above its extended portion, a clampingtype band mounted around the end of the tube that is out of thecontainer, said tube end being of a size to fit upon the air intakestack portion of a carburetor on an internal combustion engine, a vacuumcontrolled water supply tank with an inlet valve in its top, said tankbeing mounted near the said humidifier structure, said vacuum controlmeans comprising a water supply tube with a valve therein leading fromthe water supply tank to the container, an air tube leading from thewater supply tank top to and into the top of the container withadjusting means on the air tube to regulate its depth into thecontainer, a water gage mounted on the supply tank, a water gage mountedon the container, a water bathe in the lower portion of the container.

2. A humidifier and dust collector for cleaning air comprising, ahousing having a body consisting of a top with a plurality of smallholes therethrough and positioned circular, and a bottom with onecomparatively large hole through its center, and surrounding wall, aplurality of short pieces of tube, said tubes being connected by an 4end of each in the holes in the top of the housing with the remainder ofthe tubes extending downward into the housing, an air bathe structuremounted in the upper half of the housing, said structure having a roundtop portion and a round bottom portion, and a truncated cone shapedportion connecting the top and bottom portions spaced apart, said bathetop having a plurality of small holes therethrough of a size andpositioned to register with the holes in the housing top, and having alarge hole through its center, the said tubes having their lower endsattached in the small holes in the top of the bathe, the said top of thebathe having its peripheral edge bent downward and positioned near thewall of the housing, the bottom of the bathe having its peripheral edgebent upward, and positioned very near the wall of the housing, saidbottom baffle having a very large hole through its center with the edgeof the hole attached to the lower edge of the truncated cone shapedportion, a main comparatively large tube positioned in the center holein the top of the bathe and the hole in the bottom of the housing, thetop edge of the tubebeing attached with its upper end flush in thecenter hole in the bafi le top, the lower end of the tube being attachedin the hole in the housing bottom with part of the tube extending out ofthe housing, a clamping type band and bolt therefor mounted around theend of the tube extending out of the housing, said tube end being of asize to fit upon the air inlet portion of a carburetor of an internalcombustion engine, a water supply vacuum controlled tank mounted nearthe housing, said vacuum control means comprising a water supply tubewith valve therein leading from the supply tank to the housing, an airtube leading from the top of the supply tank to and into the top of thehousing with adusting means on the air tube to regulate its depth intothe housing, an inlet valve for water mounted in the top of the supplytank, a water gage mounted on the water supply tank, a water gagemounted on the housing, said housing having a water bathe mounted in itsbottom portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,771,814 Osborn et al July 29, 1930 2,321,653 Carlson June 15, 19432,717,148 Hall Sept. 6, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 603,846 Great Britain June24, 1948

